I don’t want a cat
that’s not loyal
not affectionate
always
I put out
the rat poison, but
I’m looking at
a vein, and
death seems so pleasant
next to
the dead mice
in my refrigerator,
a leaky cold box
that’s been
peaking my
electric bill
I don’t want a cat
who knows not
how a couple
of humans love
Purrs don’t
fool
loneliness
Mice carried
green pellets of rat poison
into my oven
But purrs don’t
claw out
loneliness
A mouse hopped
in spasms
across my carpet
It looked at me
flipped on its back
and died
I don’t want a cat.
I can’t afford a dog, and
no woman would want
a dog like me
I’ve never liked
green food
I don’t want a cat.
Rat poison
they dye green
for distinction, but
I’m not fooled —
every dog has
his green meal day
I don’t want a cat.
—- Douglas Gilbert
(Henry Le Châtelier)
Poetry Books By Douglas Gilbert
